Turkish FM: ‘We will never allow’ Iranians to harm Israelis in our country

Speaking in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says his meeting with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid was “very constructive.”

“We can never allow such things to unfold in our country, and we will never allow such things to take place in our country,” he says, referring to ongoing Iranian attempts to harm Israeli travelers in Turkey.

He reiterates that warming ties between the countries are continuing with “concrete, tangible actions.”

“We will be continuing with our mutual visits at various levels,” he says, promising that the process would result in the return of ambassadors.

There will be trade meetings in July and in September, Cavusoglu reveals.

“We would also like to continue our dialogue in the field of energy,” he says.

They also discuss the import of Turkish fruit to Israel, and cooperation in fighting wildfires.

Though Lapid avoids the topic in his statement, Cavusoglu says the Israeli-Palestinian issue came up. “We expressed our expectations and sensitivities, and the Israeli side knows all of those very well,” he says, stressing Ankara’s support for a two-state solution and the need to avoid “steps that would harm the peace process.”

Cavusoglu also wishes Lapid success as prime minister, a role he is expected to take up sometime next week.